I'm so happy to host Poetry Friday this week.

A new year, fresh and into the second month already.  How does that happen?

Poetry Friday is a weekly happening for all who love poetry,  Write it. Read it. Pass it on.

I found my first Poetry Friday post HERE. It was to announce the CYBILS POETRY winner for 2006.  The post ran in February 2007.  Thirteen years of Poetry Friday for me.  Whether you are new to Poetry Friday or have many posts, welcome, welcome.

There were a total of eleven participants for the 2021 New Year Poetry Postcard Exchange.  
​This week I curated words from all the poems creating a FOUND poem.  I hope you will consider joining the exchange in 2022.

Refusing to Wait for Springtime

Minted moon silverdrops, yesterday’s rain,
reflecting an invitation for merrymaking on the icy pond.

Beneath the surface, unseen creatures
busy themselves with an honest day’s work.

Chickadees flying free, blue herons perching
high in a tree watching the morning joy. 
​
© jone rush macculloch (2021 draft) 

 In August, I started this as a writing prompt from the Mud Puddle.  

This month, I took a class from Georgia Heard.  She has The Poet's Studio and it's a great way to be in community of poets.  We were to write a poem that uses the ears and revise it.  I went to this poem,  
My revisions, before class and after.  
BEFORE CLASS

The Window at Dawn
By Jone Rush MacCulloch

At dawn
Crocosmia shows its blooms-
an invitation
​Hummingbirds sip nectar
refuel mid-flight

At dawn
a cloud of bushtits hang
upside down- pecking suet
Juncos flit between feeders
breakfast on nuts and seeds

At dawn
grey squirrel flicks his tail
a party crasher
scampers across the railing
A fluster of feathers

AFTER CLASS
​
At Dawn
By Jone Rush MacCulloch

Hummingbirds sip crocosmia
nectar, refuel mid-flight.

A cloud of bushtits hang
upside down- pecking suet.

Juncos flit between feeders
breakfast on nuts and seeds.

Grey squirrel flicks his tail,
a party crasher,
​
scampers across the railing
a fluster of feathers.

Looking for good poetry posts?  Start here at Margaret at Reflections on the Teche who is sharing nesting poems and a fabulous oak and moon poem.  She is also rounding up all the Poetry Friday's post.

Who knows Lesléa Newman the fabulous author of SPARKLE BOY, GITTEL's JOURNEY, MISS TUTU'S STAR, and DONOVAN"S BIG DAY to name a few? And for teens, the must read book, October Mourning: A SONG FOR MATHEW SHEPARD.

Did you know she also writes for adults?  This month her latest book, I WISH MY FATHER, was published.  It's a companion book to I CARRY MY MOTHER.  Both books honor, give witness, and celebrate her parents.

 
I WISH MY FATHER delves into life without her mother, how her father coped after losing his wife of 60+ years, and aging. It is a loving tribute filled with poems that resonated with this reader. I remember how my father lived without his wife and life partner of 50 + years.  Moments of sadness, followed by his flirtatious nature and grappling with issues like giving up driving and moving to assisted living while keeping his dignity.

Poems such "My Father Drove My Mother", "The Second Time We Visit" revealing the hard decision to give up driving is crafted with tenderness and a doctor who was brilliant in getting to the point. It brought me back to when my father decided not to drive anymore.

There's an aching in the poem "My Father is Slipping" with the words: 
"...and that's how I know the ladies"

man my mother loathed 
and loved for all her life
has finally slipped away"

In the final poem, "My Mother is at the Bridge" imagines what it was like when her father and mother met up in heaven.  So poignant and the last stanza is perfect.  Many of us imagine those reunions the our loved ones pass from this earth.  We want to make sense of what is no longer.  I have imagined the reunion of my parents.

These narrative poems capture Lesléa Newman's love for her dad and who he was as a person in the last acts of his life.  Many readers who has lost their parents will be able to connect with these moving poems.

If you need a poetry book or two, I highly recommend I WISH MY FATHER and I CARRY MY MOTHER.

There is much poetry goodness in the world and do we ever need it now.  Head over to Sylvia at Poetry for Children. She has the inside scoop of the 2021 titles being born.

What a week.  I think what lifted my spirits was the arrival of New Year postcards.  

Linda Mitchell's New Year Poem is based on the Year of the Ox and it happens to be her OLW.  That it is a bookmark is a bonus. I love her mixed media art.

​Janice Scully's tree made me swoon. I love trees. I am ready for some merrymaking and some spring.

I have an extra photo and poem desktop calendar.  If you would like to win one, please let me know in the comments.

Bliadhna mhath ùr, Scottish Gaelic for Happy New Year.  This week, New Year Postcards have begun winging their way across the country.  Today I'm sharing one for New York and one from Ohio.  I'll be placing these on my Poe-tree.

upon the lake
winter's freshness
​exhale earth's frostbitten bite
Evolve!
​~Carol Varsalona
Photo by Carol Varsalona

recently minted
shiny coin of here and now
ready to be spent

~Mary Lee Hahn
​Photo by Mary Lee Hahn

Ruth at There is no such thing as a God-forsaken town has the first 2021 poetry round-up.  So thankful for this community. Here's to many poems this year.

This banner hangs in Milwaukie Presbyterian Church, my church.  Over the last several years, I've been asked to write something for the church Christmas card.  This year, this is the outside of the card. Since it's Christmas, I thought it fitting to share the poem I wrote for the card. (I usually write two and let them committee select the one they want.)

gathering
faith and waiting for
miracles
in the world
bring us hope, peace, joy
and love
gifts of the season

~jone rush macculloch

I wish you the love and hope of the season.  Much love.
Irene at Live Your Poem is hosting Poetry Friday.  Visit for more poetry goodness.

.Our Poetry Friday community has many ways to connect; every Friday here, poetry collectives that share monthly challenges, the upcoming New Year's Poem Postcard sendoff, and Tabatha Yeatts' summer and Winter Poetry Swap.

This week a package arrive from the east coast and my Winter Swap partner was revealed.  Thank you, Heidi Mordhorst, for this thoughtful poem, "Under her Tree."  It could be a bio-poem about what I care about.  "You'll find" is a terrific repeating line.  She used a photo recently took from Astoria for my trees, don't you love the stars? I need to up my poetry game fir these swaps after this.

I also learned something about Heidi.  I was unaware of this delicious book, PUMPKIN BUTTERFLY; POEMS FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF NATURE by her and illustrated by Jenny Reynish. It's a perfect addition for my poetry mentor books.
I particularly like the poem, "Winter Linens" which is probably perfect for part of the country today and in which I hope to see sometime this winter.



Winter Linens by Heidi Mordhost

Just water
solid water
just water frozen white

clinging to every leaf and chunk of gravel
lying along every twig and wire
mounding over every stump and silent ball

and in the dawning light
this water frozen white
glows cold and comfort both

as if to step out and lie down in it
to sink into the later that lines the slope of the slide
would be a cozy coming home to bed.

Thank you, Heidi for this wonderful and timely winter swap.  
I wonder what others will find under their trees.

Poetry Friday goodness is found at Michelle at Michelle Kogan. Please head over there and see what else is happening in our poetry universe.

All the poetry goodness can be found at  Buffy at Buffy Silverman this week.  Thanks, Buffy.

I was rummaging around on my computer this week and found the following tritina I wrote in 2015.  I don't really recall what the occasion was for me to write it and it doesn't appear to have been on my blog. I took the photo on the Glen Jackson Bridge on my way to school. October through January had some of the most spectacular early morning views.

Sometimes words come. The sunrise today (Thursday) was exquisite. While I didn't capture tonight's sunset, the words came once more.

Did you know there are 28 days until 2020 ends? Woohoo! Let's celebrate the New Year with a New Year Postcard? In Japan, it’s called Nengajo, a Japanese custom of ushering in the new year.

​Please join the party.  It will be fun!  I will be closing the signup on December 7, 2020 so that I can organized the addresses.

Mary Lee at A Year of Reading is hosting Poetry Friday. Join her and others in the fun!

Thanks to Carol at Carol’s Corner for hosting our post Thanksgiving Poetry Friday.

A couple of times a month, I participate with a group of women in the "Mud Puddle".  We write for an hour on one or two prompts.  Last Saturday, I was introduced to Pat Schneider, poet and teacher.
This poem came from watching a short video about her.
Come In, Come In
by Jone Rush MacCulloch

Come in, come in
the tea is cozied
ready to sip
We sit on the porch
​
Come in, come in
We eat toasted, buttered biscuits
mittened hands
around steamy mugs

Come in, come in
squirrels chitter
for the crumbs
in trees above

Come in, come in
We talk of daily records
reminding us been
here before - Viet Nam

Come in, come in
allow me to hold
your pain,
​catch your breath


©2020 (draft)

Did you know there are 35 days until 2020 ends? Woohoo! Let's celebrate the New Year with a New Year Postcard? In Japan, it’s called Nengajo, a Japanese custom of ushering in the new year.

​Please join the party.  It will be fun!